What is mesalazine?
Mesalazine is a synthetic medicine classified as an active principle by medical science, belonging to the group of medicines called intestinal anti-inflammatories, which is used to treat patients with some conditions in the gastrointestinal system .
What is mesalazine used for?
- Mesalazine has a localized action on the inflamed intestinal tissue, without affecting it at a systemic level. Its mechanism of action is based on the inhibition of leukocyte chemotaxis, decreasing the production of cytokines and leukotrienes and eliminating free radicals that cause intestinal cell inflammation , especially in the colon.
- It is used to treat:
- Nonspecific chronic ulcerative colitis. (1)
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). (two)
- The acute phase of Crohn ‘s disease .
- Maintenance of remission in Crohn ‘s disease .
Dosage and routes of administration of mesalazine
Mesalazine is sold in capsules or prolonged-release tablets , usually 500 mg depending on the manufacturer. The route of administration is oral and the dose will depend on the pathology to be treated, as follows:
- Adults: For the treatment of acute episodes of ulcerative colitis 1.5 to 3 g divided into three doses. For maintenance of remission in ulcerative colitis 1.5 g divided into three daily doses.
- Children between 6 and 18 years of age: For the treatment of acute episodes of ulcerative colitis 30-50 mg/kg/day divided into several doses. Then the dose can be adjusted. For maintenance of remission in ulcerative colitis 15-30 mg/kg/day divided into several doses.
Note: It is recommended to consult with your doctor for an individualized dose.
What products contain mesalazine?
Some of the medicines that contain mesalazine are:
- Claversal®
- Mezavant®
- Pentasa®
- Salofalk®
Claversal®
- Claversal® is a synthetic medication, which uses mesalazine as the active ingredient in different concentrations.
- It is used to treat inflammation caused by inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease).
Mezavant®
- Mezavant® is a synthetically manufactured medicine that contains mesalazine as an active principle in a concentration of 1200 mg.
- It is indicated for the treatment of ulcerative colitis and also to improve its symptoms.
Pentasa®
- Pentasa® is a drug that contains mesalazine as its main component, in different concentrations in the form of tablets .
- It is formulated for the treatment of mild to moderate ulcerative colitis .
Salofalk®
- Salofalk® contains mesalazine as the active ingredient, in a concentration of 250 mg and 500 mg in tablet form.
- It is highly effective for treating acute episodes of Crohn ‘s disease and maintenance of remission in ulcerative colitis.
mesalazine side effects
The use of mesalazine may cause some of the following adverse effects in certain patients :
- Possible hypersensitivity reactions due to contact with any component of the formula.
- Headache and dizziness.
- Abdominal pain, diarrhea , gas, nausea, vomiting .
- Rarely , aplastic anemia, agranulocytosis, pancytopenia, neutropenia, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia may occur.
- Very rarely dyspnea, cough , bronchospasm, alveolitis, pulmonary eosinophilia, pulmonary infiltration and pneumonitis.
Important: If any of these adverse reactions or others not listed appear, please discontinue use and notify your physician .
Contraindications and warnings of mesalazine
The use of mesalazine is contraindicated in the following cases:
- Hypersensitivity to any of the formula’s components.
- Patients with renal insufficiency,
- Patients with liver failure.
- In women during the period of pregnancy.
- In the lactation period .
To highlight: Provide your doctor with all the information regarding your health history, before starting treatment with mesalazine.
Avoid if you have:
- History of allergic reactions to mesalazine.
- History of liver or kidney disease.
- If you have asthma.
Warnings:
- During treatment with mesalazine, it is recommended that your doctor perform haematological evaluations of the case.
- This medicine must be administered with prescription or medical prescription.
- Keep this drug out of the reach of children.
- Store this medication in a safe, cool place.
University Professional in the area of Human Resources, Postgraduate in Occupational Health and Hygiene of the Work Environment, 14 years of experience in the area of health. Interested in topics of Psychology, Occupational Health, and General Medicine.